Voice is present when a writer allows their passion for the topic to shine through. It is what keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. While voice is an abstract concept to define - we certainly know it when we see it in our student writing.
Very young writers are on their way to applying voice when they:
have something important to say
create drawings that are expressive
find new ways of expressing familiar ideas
capture a range of emotions
offer sincere thoughts
are confident that what they say matters
demonstrate an awareness of an audience
are willing to take a risk and try something no classmate has tried before
apply original thinking (Culham, 2005)
As writers develop, it is important to engage them in activities that enhance their ability to recognize the voice of others. Once they recognize it as a way to make writing more powerful, students will look for ways to add it on their own. Voice will emerge from the writer when they:
speak directly to the reader on an emotional level
experiment with style to match the purpose and audience
take risks by revealing the person behind the words (Culham, 2003)
VOICE
Voice is present when a writer allows their passion for the topic to shine through. It is what keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. While voice is an abstract concept to define - we certainly know it when we see it in our student writing.
Very young writers are on their way to applying voice when they:
As writers develop, it is important to engage them in activities that enhance their ability to recognize the voice of others. Once they recognize it as a way to make writing more powerful, students will look for ways to add it on their own. Voice will emerge from the writer when they:
Voice Handout (Madison, WI)
Lesson Ideas for Voice